Reflexology: The Definitive Practitioner's Manual: Recommended by the International Therapy Examination Council for Students and Practitoners

• Telephone number

• Sex

• Occupation

• Name of medical practitioner

• Brief medical history

• What medication the person is taking

• What the complaint is and any other health problems

• Dates of all treatments, with a brief evaluation.

The medical history usually consists of information about past severe complaints or medical problems that the person has experienced. Some of these may relate to the present disorder. It is also imperative that the family medical history is explored in case there is some connection. A general social history (e.g. occupation) to give some background information is also advisable.

It is not necessary to have a tick list of topics to note, but attention can be given to the following:

• Skin quality (feet, hands and ears)

• Nail quality (feet and hands)

• Hair quality

• Weight – obese or underweight

• Posture

• Exercise, also hobbies and relaxation

• Joints – restricted movement or hereditary defect

• Gait analysis

• Muscle tone

• Sleep patterns

• Behaviour patterns and mannerisms

• Diet – nutritive or convenience foods

• Alcohol – regular or occasional drinker

• Tea/coffee intake – if in excess of six cups per day

• Water intake

• Smoker

• General circulation

• Blood pressure

• Allergies

• Hormone imbalance

• Emotional state and stress level

A record should be kept of any tender reflexes so that symptoms and tender areas can be reviewed throughout the treatment sessions.

Finally, a record must also be kept of the patient’s attendance and the amount charged. If you ask your client to refer anything to their doctor, make a note of the date and time you advised them and their response.

The above points are given purely as a guide. They indicate the type of information needed for a case history sheet or index card. It cannot be emphasized enough that the keeping of adequate records is a way of professional life. It also covers practitioners in the event of any claims of any incorrect treatment. One should therefore adopt best and safe practices at all times.

Diagnosis (#ulink_4bc382a8-7a6b-5005-8f98-7149c6942f98)

Reflexologists do not diagnose in the allopathic sense, but use a differential diagnosis, taking many other factors into consideration and many other variables to ascertain where there are imbalances within the body. This is why it is important to assess behaviour patterns at work situations and in the home.

Diagnostic techniques

Diagnostic techniques are usually performed in medicine to determine the nature of the disorder by analysis of the signs and presenting symptoms. They usually include tests of blood or urine and other laboratory tests to make a diagnosis or to eliminate other possibilities. The differential diagnosis used in reflexology is drawn from signs and symptoms and close observation, often comparing and analysing the differences between the two hands, feet or ears. The aim is to find areas of the body that are out of balance. The conclusions drawn from this are not necessarily totally conclusive, as so many factors and variables could be causing an imbalance in the patient’s health. Therefore perception and skill are required to determine whether there is a need to refer the patient to a medical authority or other discipline.

Palpation

In palpation a practitioner will explore by examining, touching and probing with the thumb and forefinger to find any sensitive reflexes, or feel a change in texture, such as a deposit and crunchy feeling, or an air bubble and popping sensation beneath your finger, which may indicate an imbalance within that zone. This is where astuteness and dexterity are required, also intuition and perception. Reflexologists use a unique and precise alternating acupressure technique or palpation over all areas of feet or hands to detect any imbalances. The slight changes of texture beneath the thumbs and fingers are often likened to crystalline deposits, although there is no medical evidence that this is correct, but it is enough that these ‘congested areas’ are noted by therapists. Until alerted that there is a tender area, the patient is usually unaware of overuse of a joint. The reaction may include the following: ‘Yes, I do sleep on that side’, ‘I must have at least two pillows’, ‘I always carry my bag on that shoulder’, ‘Yes, I do cross my legs as I am sitting at my desk’, ‘I always support my elbow on the window while driving’, ‘I only do the breaststroke as I do not like my hair getting wet’ or ‘I like tucking my legs up on the settee while watching television’. Such comments indicate how behaviour patterns may cause no end of problems (see below).

This process also therapeutically stimulates the nerve endings, and the soft tissue palpation has a curative effect throughout the whole zone, that is from fingertips to the brain and down to the tips of the toes. With reflexology there are many different analytical techniques; it does not matter which method is used so long as the areas are covered in a systematic fashion, and the practitioner adapts the pressure used according to the person’s needs.

During palpation the strength of the fingers and hand are felt, also the flexibility of joints are noted, and the resilience and springiness of the tissues are observed. All these are of importance in assessing the patient’s energy and vitality. Hand and nail care can often also give an insight into the person’s self-esteem. All these points need to be observed in a systematic way. The practitioner must also adopt a holistic attitude, seeing the patient as a whole. Physical, mental and social factors must be embraced and not just the individual parts of the body.

Diagnosing the cause of a problem

Illness is a particular state that is produced by many factors. Any excesses in the regular patterns of daily life can cause an instability. The general state of mind is also most important; both our basic attitude and moods, which may change according to the anxieties suffered. Bad temper and anger create stress, which may leave the person disturbed, uptight and unable to cope, creating the right environment for ill-health to manifest. Stress such as repetitive mental tension and emotional strain can lead to many psychosomatic disorders (emphasizing the relationship between mind and body) and other organic changes in body systems such as headaches, migraines, hormonal imbalances, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neck and low back problems. This is because internal feelings can change the heart rate, causing sweating and rapid breathing. Even muscular tension can be related to stress. It is most important to understand that no two people respond to stress in the same way.

Mental stress from external influences can also cause chronic problems to manifest. The problem may be related to other people. The old saying ‘you are a pain in the neck’ is so true, as a difficult person can create a problem for an individual. The ‘stress syndrome’, leading to many complications, can also be caused by work problems. Fibromyalgia, which is often thought of as a rheumatic disorder, can be stress related. It is an aching and progressive stiffness of the fibrous tissue within the muscle; this affects in turn the neck and shoulder joint and even down to the lower back (so the old adage ‘you are a pain in the backside’ may also be true). So if a patient comes with an acute or sudden onset of stiff neck or lumbago and no physical exertion can explain it, always check to see whether they had any great emotional upset, particular mental strain or work problem prior to the onset of their predicament.

Behaviour patterns that can cause a problem

The old adage ‘We are what we eat’ and ‘We are what we do’ are both true, and are wise proverbs that we should all adhere to. By taking an in-depth case history, eating patterns should be discovered. Many food allergies are caused by the very food the person most enjoys. Gastritis is often caused by incorrect eating or lifestyle, and anxiety and stress also play a role.

As many of the daily activities of the patient as possible should be determined. Behavioural adjustment can help an individual to correct everyday patterns and mannerisms of movement that are second nature to the person but that they are often unaware may be causing the problem and over a period of time leading to imbalances occurring in the area of the body concerned. This imbalance in turn can spread until the whole zone is affected. People often comment, however, on which is their ‘bad side’, referring to whether most discomfort is felt in the left or right side of the body. When a patient comes complaining of chronic neck or shoulder problems, it is essential to ascertain the behavioural activity that is making the problem worsen. Many people do not realize how much they can help themselves. The following are some of the activities that may cause or aggravate an existing neck or shoulder problem or cause other complications.

Watching television. If a person is not sitting correctly and looking straight at the television this can cause neck problems and low back problems. If the person curls their legs up it throws the hip joint out. When watching television the chair should be placed directly in the viewing line, and the neck and shoulder should not be twisted. Never allow young children to lay on the floor and look up to the television as this places undue strain on the back of the neck and spine.

Holding the telephone. Does the patient use a telephone and have to write at the same time? Often people try to grasp the telephone between the neck and the shoulder and do other jobs at the same time, but over a period of time this will cause no end of problems in the cervical region.